First Look at Lakewood Blue Claws 2012 Promotional Schedule

Today the Phillies Class A affiliate, Lakewood Blue Claws announced their full promotional schedule, full of SGAs.  Here are a few of the dates that jumped out:

Vance Worley bobble head

The latest in Lakewood's "Made the Phillies"bobble head series will be given away to fans on July 14th.  The Worley bobble is now the 14th in the series that extends back to the original Gavin Floyd which was handed out during the 2006 season.  Let's hope we look back in a couple years, and group this one with the Ryan Howard, Cole Hamels and Carlos Ruiz figurines and not those commemorating Lou Marson, Chris Roberson and Mike Zagurski.

Mickey Morandini bobble head

The Blue Claw's skipper (and former Phillie) takes bobble head form on September 1st.  Morandini was a regular with the big club for most of the 1990's, and this one is sure to be a hot item with the fans who remember the great run they had in 1993.

Jim Kaat Autograph Signing

A legit Hall of Fame candidate, Kaat was a key member of the Phillies during their NL East Championships of 1976, '77 and '78.  His signature is a must on team ball's from any of those seasons.  As luck has it, he'll be at FirstEnergy Park April 26th signing.

Check out the full promotional schedule: Blue Claws 2012 Promotions

Historically Bad Phillies Bobble Heads

Hunter Pence 2012 Bobble Head

This week the Phillies released a picture of the Hunter Pence bobble head that will be sold at Citizens Bank Park next summer.  The picture which was distributed via the Phillies' Majestic Store Twitter account (@PhilliesMCS) has been received well by the fans, and even got a positive comment from the outfielder himself - "

I like the fact that the Bobble Head has Big Eyes and a Big Smile! Thanks Philly".

It is actually a pretty good likeness of Pence, and the fact that so many people were commenting on it got me thinking how unusual that is.  I did some digging and found a couple historically bad examples:

Raul Ibanez

Production Year:  2010

Produced by: Forever Collectibles

Details: 8" tall; was part of the "Photobase" bobble head line

Comments: This looks as much like Raul as I do.  I cannot remember him ever having a mustache and goatee as depicted in this bobble head (but I could be wrong).

Raul Ibanez bobble head

Shane Victorino

Production Year: 2010

Produced by: Forever Collectibles

Details: Part of the "Big Head" bobble head line

Comments: At first glance I thought it was an example of a "good" Placido Polanco.  But, no, it's just a bad one of Shane Victorino.

Shane Victorino bobble head

Lenny Dykstra

Production Year: 2004

Produced by: Novel-T-Shirts

Details: SGA (6/20/04) for the Phillies' former AAA affiliate, Scranton Wilkes Barre Red Barons.  

Comments: Probably a result of a local producer, but the quality is just lacking on this bobble head.  Outside of the left-handed batting stance, nothing about this one looks like "The Dude".

Lenny Dykstra SWB bobble head

Ryan Howard

Production Year: 2008

Produced by: Unknown

Details: SGA (6/22/08) for the Reading Phillies.

Comments:  Shame on the Reading Phillies.  Shame!

Follow me on Twitter for more Phillies memorabilia discussion: @philscollector

Vance Worley Bobble Head Design Decided!

2012 Vance Worley Bobble Head Choices

Unless you have been away from this planet for the past year, you are well aware of the impact Vance Worley has made on both the Phillies starting rotation, and the team's fan base.  Complete with a fresh nickname and hair style (not to mention, one pretty good rookie season), the pitcher's Q-Rating is sky-high in the 215.  No one can deny the splash he made on the field (11-3, 3.01 ERA), but he has also been equally successful in memorabilia market.  Personal appearances were scattered throughout the area last season, and stores stocked Worley t-shirts beside those for Utley, Howard and Halladay by season's end.  (Heck, even my three-year-old son knows him!)  

On the heels of last week's announcement that the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs 2012 promotional lineup would include two Worley-themed items, the Citizens Bank Park Majestic Store gave fans an opportunity to choose the uniform the right-hander will wear in his first, official Phillies bobble-head.  The uniform choices were fairly obvious, white home, gray away and home alternate.  Since the "contest" was first released on January 6th, Phillies fans have furiously cast votes via Twitter (tagged: #Worleybobble) to decide which version bobble head would be produced.  A search of the tag shows that voting was actually pretty mild.  In fact, The Vanimal himself could not be prodded to vote (maybe he just couldn't decide).  In the end, the fans have spoken and shelves at CBP will be stocked with the home, red pinstripe version.  If what we have seen so far this calendar year holds, it seems like there will be a whole lot more Vance to go around this season.

Collectible of the Week: 2012 Lehigh Valley SGA Preview

John Mayberry, Jr.  Bobble Head June 26th (via Iron Pigs)

With a nod to the New Year, I thought we should start looking forward to the new collectibles we will be acquiring during 2012.  Just as card shows, flea markets/yard sales and eBay are excellent ways to add Phillies memorabilia from our past to your collection, attending SGA games are the best way to pick up a few "new" ones.  This week, the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (Phillies AAA affiliate) announced their preliminary promotional schedule for the 2012 baseball season.  The announcement is the first from any of the Phillies minor league teams.  Thanks to Matthew Froehlich (follow him on Twitter: @DaRock12283) for the heads up!

A few of the highlights of the schedule are:

Bobble Heads
FeRROUS (bobble belly) - April 11th
FeFe - April 12th
Rich Thompson - April 23rd
Vance Worley - May 1st
Jamie Moyer (HS uniform) - May 23rd
John Mayberry, Jr. - June 26th

Bronze Statues
Ryne Sandberg - April 26th
Harry Kalas - May 3rd

Best of the Rest
Winter Cap - April 24th
Vance Worley replica glasses - May 17th (this guy is a phenomenon)
Team Photo and Autograph Session - May 23rd
Iron Pigs bank - July 22nd

Winter Cap (via Iron Pigs)

Check out the press release that contains a full schedule of promotional events on the team site: Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs

Keep up with all things related to Phillies memorabilia by following me on Twitter: @philscollector

Collectible of the Week: Top 5 Jimmy Rollins Figurines

Last weekend I reflected on some of the times I met Jimmy Rollins and shared a few autographs I acquired during those meetings.  As promised in that post, I am continuing the J-Roll lovefest by dedicating this week's Collectible of the Week to our favorite shortstop.

Over the years the Phillies have leveraged Jimmy's popularity to offer a load of SGA's ranging from t-shirts to prints, backpacks and bobble heads.  It must be acknowledged that the team often finds great ways to reward customers (i.e. - us fans) with unique memorabilia (sometimes with variation).  They have been especially generous with their promotions featuring J-Roll.  Below are what I would consider the top 5 Jimmy Rollins figurines (statue/bobble head) currently available in the market:

5.  Jimmy Rollins SGA Figurine

Year produced: 2005

Comments:  

SGA at Citizens Bank Park June 21, 2005.  I really struggled with this one.  Probably my least favorite item on the list, I never really thought the likeness was very good on this figurine.  It can be considered as part of a bigger set (Jim Thome and Bobby Abreu were also featured that season) which is a plus.  A variant, with JRoll in a white, home uniform was also produced.

 

4.  Jimmy Rollins/Ryan Howard Dual "MVP" Bobble Head

Year produced: 2008

Quantity produced: Unknown

Availability: This bobble was only available to leaders of group ticket parties.  With the limited original distribution, your only real avenue for getting one at this point is in the online secondary market.

Comments:  If one bobble is good, two is twice as nice!  The Phillies have handed out a couple dual-bobble heads over the years (Harry and Whitey, Phil and Phyllis), and in my opinion they never get old.  A unique way to honor a unique situation of having back-to-back MVP's on the same team.  I don't think this one is particularly rare, but from looking at prices online it has maintained a fairly high resale value.  I won't put a price on it - but, if you see one at a yard sale for under $25...pick it up!!!

3.  

Jimmy Rollins Scranton-Wilkes Barre Bronze Figurine

Year produced: 2006

Quantity produced: Unknown

Availability: Originally a SGA at Lackawanna County Stadium on April 17, 2006.  You find these every once in a while on eBay.

Comments: This set contained a lot of great Phillies from the past decade (Utley, Howard, Burrell, Rolen among others).  Produced for the now defunct AAA Scranton Wilkes-Barre Red Barons these statues are pretty solid and really display nicely.  Some in the set are more rare than others (Shane Victorino for example), but the player poses and unique bronze, rough edged texture of the figure make them a must have for your personal collection.

2.

 Jimmy Rollins Blood Drive Bobble Head - Gray Jersey variation

Year produced: 2008

Quantity produced: 2,500

Availability: While version #1 with Jimmy in the white, home jersey was available to all paying customers on June 4, 2008, version #2 featuring the gray, away jersey was only available to fans who donated blood later in the season (August).

Comments: Personally, the "best looking" figurine in the list.  The evaluation can be kept short and sweet: The smooth left-handed bat drop, the mirrored shades - what's not to like?!

1.  

Jimmy Rollins SGA Bobble Head - Red Jersey Variation

Year produced: 2002

Quantity produced: 1,000

Availability:  Handed out randomly amongst the tens of thousands of white, home jersey versions during the Phillies game at Veterans Stadium - June 23, 2002.

Comments:  Not only is this the most rare item in the list, but the 2002 bobble head is a sentimental favorite of mine, too.  It was produced right as the bobble head re-birth took MLB by storm and as a big fan of Jimmy's I was excited to be offered the opportunity to get his bobble head.  I attended the game with my brother (both of us received the standard version).  Bonus points have to go out to the Phillies for inserting the variants randomly into the population - fans needed to do no more than show up for a chance to receive this surprise.  And, let's face it - those red BP jersey's are sweet!

For daily updates on Phillies memorabilia and collectibles, follow me on Twitter: 

@philscollector

My Collecting Story: Phillies Weekend Wrap-up

On the heels of last weekend's Philly Show, this week's Holiday Sale and Poppel.com signing just about drained my last dollar of 2011.  The annual sale held by the Phillies is a good place to pick up some game used jerseys, hats and bats, as well as a load of autographed items.  Normally you find the goods from second-tier players like Eric Bruntlett or Mike Sweeney featured - but, this year there seemed to be a nice selection from stars like Pat Burrell, Jayson Werth and Jimmy Rollins.  In past years I have been able to pick up a couple unique items that build on my collection without breaking the bank (Carlos Ruiz '07 BP jersey, Ruiz '08 batting helmet, Brett Myers and Randy Wolf game worn hats and a few game used bats). This year's big item was a Jayson Werth game-used alternate home uniform from the 2008 season.  Complete with dirt stains, this instantly becomes my best gamer!

Jayson Werth Alt. GU Jersey

Also, I picked up a "Four Aces" Group Leader bobble-head and a few nice signed pieces that will fit nicely into my collection - a Billy Wagner single-signed ROMLB and 12 assorted autographed 8x10 player photos.  The 8x10's include Scott Rolen, Pat Burrell, Aaron Rowand, Jamie Moyer and Jayson Werth.  I am looking forward to handing a couple of these pictures in the Phillies room immediately!  Larry Andersen was wandering around the CBP store and I caught him to sign the 1993 World Series program cover - glad I didn't pay to get him last weekend!

Autographed Phillies Player 8x10 Photo Cards

Billy Wagner SS ROMLB

Phillies Four Aces Bobble Head

Larry Andersen on the '93 WS Program

After the Holiday Sale I shot up 95 to Bucks County Technical HS for the Poppel.com card show. The show brought in two 2008 Phillies (Greg Dobbs and Chad Durbin) - but, at $30 a piece, after all I have spent over the past 6 days I had to pass on both.  Instead I took the budget route and decided to add two signatures to my ongoing 1993 Phillies poster - Wes Chamberlain and Ben Rivera.  I have met both in the past, but wasn't sure I was going to have the shot to get them on the poster.  At $15 each, they fit the budget and helped me get a little closer to completing this project.

Follow me on Twitter: 

@philscollector

Don't forget to join the conversation on Phillies autographs